Stephen Curry and the Most Three-Pointers in a Season

Curry, Allen, Dennis Scott and George McCloud are the only NBAers who drained 250 treys or more over one campaign. Scott and McCloud made their marks in the same season, 1995-96.

The three-pointer pre-dates both the ABA and NBA, but the ABA was the first long-standing pro league to adopt it (1967-68). The NBA picked it up more than a decade later, in 1979-80.

Here are the top 20 players with the most three-pointers in a season. Mookie Blaylock and Mitch Richmond also make the list from 1995-96. What was it with that season?

Actually, what was it with three seasons: 1994-95, 1995-96 and 1996-97?

The three-point line was originally 23 feet, 9 inches from the basket. To increase scoring the NBA shortened the distance to just 22 feet during those three seasons. Since 1997-98, the arc has been set back to its original distance. So that explains some of the skewed data.

There is a parallel with what is going on in the NFL today, and that league’s passing explosion. Fans want offense. They want points. New penalty and foul rules the NFL and NBA have instituted over the past decade to protect players lend themselves to opening the field or floor for the offensive player. There is more “hands off” from the defense than ever before in both sports.